Big Red One: Talking with Military Advisors

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How authentic is the game? Two military advisors respond.

By Juan Castro

Authenticity is key when creating a game based on real heroes. With the case of Call of Duty: Big Red One, Treyarch enlisted the aid of two military advisors who, by all accounts, seriously know whay they're talking about. Read on for proof.

John Hillen John Hillen is one of America's leading commentators and analysts on military affairs, international security and World War II military operations. A decorated combat veteran with a PhD from Oxford University, Hillen is an authority on warfare and is a consultant to ABC News for military affairs. He can be frequently seen on Good Morning America, World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Nightline, This Week and other ABC News programs. A prolific author, he has written two critically acclaimed books and numerous articles on military issues.

Prior to embarking on his business career, Hillen was an Army officer (Captain - retired) and international security scholar. During his military career he served the world over with combat units including the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the 82nd Airborne Division and the 5th Special Forces Group, and was awarded the Bronze Star for his combat actions during a battle in Operation Desert Storm.

Hank Keirsey Hank Keirsey is a retired Army Colonel, decorated combat veteran and authority on World War II military history. He has spent his life coaching, mentoring and building teams, and leading them under stress. Keirsey has created winning organizations that have succeeded under the most demanding conditions, from field training and combat to corporate environments.

Commissioned as an infantryman from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Keirsey's first tour of duty was with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Since then, Keirsey has served in a wide variety of leadership and staff positions both in the United States and overseas. During the Gulf War, Keirsey (assigned as Executive Officer) and his airborne infantry battalion spearheaded the attack into Iraq. Keirsey was awarded the Bronze Star for his role in the successful offensive.

IGN: What attracted you to this project?

John Hillen: We've been the military advisors to all the Call of Duty games - with Big Red One being the fifth in the franchise now. Call of Duty has been a great experience for us, because of its intense focus on re-creating the most authentic battlefield environment that technology can allow. That makes us happy about the historical accuracy and more important, makes the game unique in the genre and that much more fun to play.

It is the most intensive shooter experience out there as far as I'm concerned, because the fantasy element in other first person titles has been removed and replaced with gritty realism. Big Red One was an attractive proposition because it's a tribute to the most storied, well-traveled, combat-experienced, and legendary unit in the American Army of WWII. The varied campaigns that the units of the Big Red One fought make for a whole slew of new battlefield experiences, weapons, tactics and settings. And the ability to follow one unit through the entire war delivers a powerful story-telling element to the game.

Hank Keirsey: Frankly the developers from the start impressed me. I have always been a fan of WWII history. The soldiers that fought and won that war are passing into the long night at an alarming rate. Games like Call of Duty help the current generation of game players understand the legacy of courage and sacrifice that was their grandfather's and great-grandfather's. My nephew, a huge gamer and Call of Duty fan, has a new and profound respect for his 86 year old grandfather who fought along side the Big Red One during the landings in Sicily in 1943 with the Oklahoma Guard, 45th Division Thunderbirds.

I got an email from him one day. He loved the original Call of Duty and was in awe to hear that I was an advisor. I told him, "Kent don't be too impressed with your Uncle, it was your grandfather that carried a Thompson onto the beaches of Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Southern Francewho crossed the Rhine and stormed into the old Nazi stadium in Nuremberg to crush SS resistance and blow up huge swastikas with tank fire." So what I like with this game, the developers have shown an impressive passion for getting the details rightin essence they are telling all of our grandfather's stories.

IGN: How long have you been working on the title?

John: We've been working closely with the team on Big Red One since the first concept.

Hank: John and I started working with the Call of Duty franchise about three years ago during the original game and have been working closely with each of the teams since. For Big Red One, we actually go back with the Gray Matter team to their previous title, the Call of Duty expansion pack, United Offensive. So, we're very familiar with the team and now that they've joined with Treyarch for Big Red One, we're excited to collaborate on the new Call of Duty console game.

As part of what we do in our roles, we regularly talk about weapons and tactics, about the effects of artillery, organization of infantry platoons, the importance of machine gun emplacement, and how maneuver and fire is the bread and butter of an infantry squad's ability to advance on a determined enemy. And, it's been a pleasure to see the kind of authenticity that our work has helped to contribute into games like this one.